Written Answers Tuesday 1 June 2010

Scottish Executive

Civil Servants

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the civil servants in the Directorate General for Justice and Communities are aligned to the policy direction of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice.

Kenny MacAskill: Yes.

Climate Change

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the steps it is taking to build a low-carbon economy.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government published in March Towards a Low Carbon Economy for Scotland: Discussion paper which draws together, for the first time, ways in which Scotland can take pole position in the drive to secure the economic benefits of greener business.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/lowcarbon.

  It is designed to gather views and experiences from across Scotland and to form a clear basis for discussion with industry sectors like finance, construction and skills. The key purpose of the discussions is to highlight exactly what type of interventions are required to realise that vision.

  We aim to provide a clear focus to promote the transition to a low carbon economy by using the output from the consultation period to publish a low carbon strategy in autumn 2010.

  We are working to develop that strategy in partnership with the key bodies responsible for economic development in Scotland – the Enterprise Agencies, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Development International, the Scottish Funding Council, Visit Scotland and Transport Scotland, as well as the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities is also working closely with the Scottish Government. In addition we are working with business, private and third sector bodies to take the work forward.

Communities

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-10265 by Alex Neil on 29 April 2010 ( Official Report c. 25892), on what date Audit Scotland published the report of its investigation into the Scottish-Islamic Foundation.

Alex Neil: Audit Scotland carried out its investigation into payments made to the Scottish Islamic Foundation as part of its audit of the Scottish Government 2007-08 accounts. This work was undertaken as a result of correspondence received by Audit Scotland from George Foulkes MSP. Audit Scotland responded to Lord Foulkes on 29 August 2008 and the response can be found at:

  http://search1.scotland.gov.uk/Scotland?n=All&$rcexpanded=false&action=search&q=george+foulkes+FOI.

Communities

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-10265 by Alex Neil on 29 April 2010 ( Official Report c. 25892), on what date the Scottish-Islamic Foundation’s initial funding application was approved and by which minister.

Alex Neil: As stated in the answer to question S3W-15066 on 3 September 2008 and S3W-31180 on 26 February 2010, funding for IslamFest was originally approved by Rhona Brankin, then Minister for Communities, on 19 March 2007. The commitment given was rolled forward by the Scottish Government and funding in principle was approved for IslamFest by the First Minister on 18 February 2008 subject to the submission of an acceptable project proposal. Such a proposal was submitted to the Scottish Government on 17 March 2008 and officials issued a grant offer letter to the Scottish-Islamic Foundation on 25 March 2010.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Scottish Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Communities

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32715 by Alex Neil on 19 April 2010, whether it will publish its response to the auditors of the Scottish-Islamic Foundation.

Alex Neil: This document is already in the public domain and is available online at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality/18934/ScotGovReplyWylieBisset . A copy of the response has also been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50880).

Diabetes

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) number and (b) rate per 1,000 of population has been of acute hospital admissions for diabetes in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in each of the last four years, also broken down by intermediate geographical zone.

Shona Robison: Information is given in the following table on the number and rate per 1,000 of acute hospital admissions with a primary diagnosis of diabetes for financial years 31 March 2006 to 2009 for Angus and Dundee Community Health Partnerships. Information at intermediate geography zone level is not included due to the small numbers and the associated risk of disclosure of information on individual patients.

  

 
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


No of Admissions
Rate per 1,000 pop
No of Admissions
Rate per 1,000 pop
No of Admissions
Rate per 1,000 pop
No of Admissions
Rate per 1,000 pop


Angus CHP
101
0.93
104
0.95
114
1.04
138
1.25


Dundee CHP
142
1.00
141
0.99
174
1.22
162
1.14



  Source: ISD Scotland.

Education

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to schools regarding homophobic incidents.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government funded the development of A Toolkit for Teachers: Dealing with Homophobia and Homophobic bullying in Scottish Schools by LGBT Youth Scotland in partnership with Learning Teaching Scotland, issued to every secondary school in Scotland in February 2009.

  http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/Images/LGBT%20low%20res%207'01'09_tcm4-512286.pdf.

  This contains guidance in relation to dealing with homophobic incidents.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/13102651/0.

  Additionally, we issued guidance in 2007 to accompany the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007. The recent issue of the FIT DVD by Stonewall Scotland to all secondary schools supports discussion around this issue. http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_school/fit/default.asp.

Education

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is held centrally regarding the number and nature of homophobic incidents in schools and the manner in which they were treated.

Adam Ingram: We do not hold this information centrally.

Education

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the adequacy of the arrangements for dealing with homophobic incidents in schools.

Adam Ingram: It is for local authority and schools to set their own arrangements for dealing with homophobic incidents. The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 makes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation unlawful and requires schools to make sure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pupils or the children of LGBT parents, do not receive different and less favourable treatment to that given to other pupils. Schools need to ensure that homophobic bullying is taken as seriously and dealt with as firmly as bullying on any other ground. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education also assess the school’s handling of bullying within inspection as part of the pre-inspection survey of pupils, parents, teachers and school staff, seeking their views on feelings of safety and welfare. Furthermore, the Scottish Government actively promotes the health and wellbeing of LGBT pupils through Curriculum for Excellence and the Toolkit for Teachers: Dealing with Homophobia and Homophobic Bullying in Scottish Schools .

  http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/Images/LGBT%20low%20res%207'01'09_tcm4-512286.pdf.

  The Scottish Government wholly funds Respectme (£347,000 pa) to provide direct support to local authorities, schools, youth groups and all those working with children and young people in relation to bullying, including homophobic bullying.

Education

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were for the production and distribution of the A Leading Change DVD, which is being sent to every secondary school in the country.

Michael Russell: The Leading Change DVD was sent to every secondary school as part of the government’s commitment to share the learning from the Schools of Ambition Programme. The total costs of the DVD are not yet finalised but are expected to be around £32,000.

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people (a) under and (b) over 18 years of age are on anticoagulation therapy, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The numbers of patients receiving these medicines are not centrally available. However, the number of prescriptions for anticoagulants are available and he following table shows the numbers of items prescribed in Scotland during the financial year ending 31 March 2008 to 2009 inclusive, by NHS board.

  Table 1. Numbers of items prescribed in Scotland during the financial year ending 31 March 2008 to 2009 inclusive, by NHS board:

  

Health Board
Exemption Group1


18 or under
Over 18
Total


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
183
49,997
50,180


NHS Borders
55
22,901
22,956


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
69
29,408
29,477


NHS Fife
133
41,179
41,312


NHS Forth Valley
190
42,057
42,247


NHS Grampian
217
74,660
74,877


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
642
153,082
153,724


NHS Highland
203
60,418
60,621


NHS Lanarkshire
386
73,914
74,300


NHS Lothian
268
75,969
76,237


NHS Orkney
32
3,522
3,554


NHS Shetland
12
4,677
4,689


NHS Tayside
137
59,725
59,862


NHS Western Isles
8
7,215
7,223


Total
2,535
698,724
701,259



  Source: Information Services Division Scotland. 1. Where "under 16 years of age", "16 to 18 and in full-time education" box has been checked. For the over 18, this is the total of all other exemption categories and includes charged prescriptions.

  For the over 18, this is the total of all other exemption categories and includes charged prescriptions. British National Formulary sub sections 020801 (parenteral anticoagulants) and 020802 (Oral anticoagulants).

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people (a) under and (b) over 18 years of age self-test their INR for anticoagulation therapy, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The question cannot be answered, as patient data are not held centrally.

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people (a) under and (b) over 18 years of age both self-test their INR and self-manage their anticoagulation therapy, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The information requested is not available centrally.

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made by each NHS board to enable young people above 16 years of age to self-test and self-manage their anticoagulation therapy.

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken by each NHS board to facilitate the self-testing and self-management of anticoagulation therapy for appropriate patients.

Shona Robison: NHS boards generally do not provide support for self testing or self management of oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) as recent evidence (which can be found at: http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/6010.html ) and practice suggests that the process is not as cost effective as clinic-based care. However, all requests are dealt with on an individual basis currently.

  The generally held clinical view is that very few young people on OAT would be eligible for consideration for self-testing and self monitoring.

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated average cost per annum is of providing care within the NHS for a patient on anticoagulation therapy and how this compares with an estimate of the average cost of supporting a patient who is (a) self-testing and (b) self-testing and self-managing their anticoagulation therapy.

Shona Robison: Whilst information on the costs of self-testing and self-management of oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) is not held centrally, recent evidence (which can be found at  http://www.nhshealthquality.org/nhsqis/6010.html ) and practice suggests that it is less cost effective than clinic based treatment.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to monitor the incidence of Clostridium difficile in non-NHS hospitals.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of incidents of Clostridium difficile reported in non NHS-hospitals in each year for which figures are available, broken down by hospital.

Shona Robison: From 1 January 2010, the Public Health Act etc. (Scotland) 2008 has required all Directors of Diagnostic Laboratories to notify each identification of Clostridium difficile to Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and their local NHS board.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to mitigate the effect of budget pressures on jobs at universities across Scotland.

Michael Russell: We have provided a record £1.076 billion for our universities in financial year 2010-11.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to address the issue of job reductions at the University of Glasgow.

Michael Russell: Action to address the issue of job reductions at any of Scotland’s autonomous, independent universities is a matter for the institution concerned, not Scottish ministers.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans an independent review of university funding to address concerns of job reductions at universities.

Michael Russell: We have no plans to hold such a review.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32260 by Michael Russell on 18 March 2010, whether it will list the (a) students, (b) student leaders, (c) university principals, (d) unions and (e) members of the entire stakeholder community with which alternative approaches to university funding have been discussed since the publication of its news release on 6 March 2010, Tuition fees not on the agenda.

Michael Russell: The initial, private, exploratory meetings were set up under Chatham House rules, to inform the development of government policy. Our ability to set up future meetings on such a basis could be compromised if we were to release details. We are therefore not prepared to do so.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what alternatives to tuition fees it is considering in its debate on the future of university funding.

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a graduate contribution will be considered in its debate on the future of university funding.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32261 on 17 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will write to the UK Government asking that it confirm that VAT will not be imposed on new house building and that consideration will be given to removing VAT for rehabilitation works to older buildings in order to boost the construction industry and assist in the conservation of historic properties.

Alex Neil: I have written to the UK Government reiterating our support for a reduction in VAT for maintenance and repair activity and expressing concern about the negative effects that charging VAT on new build properties would have on both the construction sector and the affordability of homes for first-time buyers.

Immigration

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the UK Government’s proposed immigration policy will have an effect on the availability of seasonal workers in Scotland and if so, what effect.

Fiona Hyslop: The UK Government’s proposal to introduce an annual limit on the number of non-EEA migrants admitted into the UK is unlikely to have a significant impact on the availability of seasonal workers in Scotland.

  This is because there is currently no immigration route available for unskilled workers within the UK Points Based System for managed migration, the category most seasonal work would fall within. The vast majority of seasonal work in Scotland is currently undertaken by EEA nationals whose entitlement to live and work in the UK is unaffected by this proposal.

Mental Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on establishing a new inpatient mental health facility in Ayrshire.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Ayrshire and Arran have confirmed that at its board meeting on 7 April 2010 proposals were approved to progress the Outline Business Case for the New North Ayrshire Community Hospital in Irvine, which will include a new adult inpatient mental health unit.

Mental Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the planned new inpatient mental health facility in Ayrshire will be completed.

Nicola Sturgeon: The outline business case for the new North Ayrshire Community Hospital, which incorporates the plans for a new adult inpatient mental health unit, are due to be submitted by NHS Ayrshire and Arran to the Scottish Government’s Capital Investment Group for consideration by September 2010.

  If the outline business case is approved work will continue on the production of the full business case, which is scheduled to be submitted in the summer of 2011. The board has currently scheduled the construction of the new Community Hospital to commence in April 2013, giving an anticipated completion date of summer 2016.

Minimum Wage

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals there are to hold discussions with the UK Government regarding enforcement of minimum wage regulations.

Jim Mather: Scottish Government officials are in regular contact with their UK Government counterparts on a range of reserved issues, including the National Minimum Wage. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will meet the new Scottish representative of the Low Pay Commission on 14 July to discuss a number of matters relating to the National Minimum Wage.

Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions have been brought under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 for offences relating to mephedrone and other cathinone derivatives since their ban on 16 April 2010, broken down by (a) type of offence and (b) police force area.

Frank Mulholland QC: Since 16 April 2010 five charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 relating to Mephedrone have been libelled in court proceedings. Of these five, two are under section 5(2), namely being in possession of a controlled drug, and the remaining three are under section 4(3)(b), that is being concerned in the supplying of a controlled drug.

  Both of the section 5(2) possession charges, as well as two of the section 4(3)(b) supply charges were reported to COPFS by Grampian Police. The remaining section 4(3)(b) supply case was reported by Tayside Police.

  There have been no reported cases and therefore no prosecutions raised to-date under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in respect of the other cathinone derivatives.

  Notes

  1. The information for this question has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  3. The figures quoted in this answer reflect the information recorded on 18 May 2010.

NHS Hospitals

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions patients were placed in mixed-sex wards in hospitals in Ayrshire and Arran in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Nicola Sturgeon: The requested information is not available.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards have been asked, or are preparing, workforce planning projections for 2011-12 and, if so, when these will be made publicly available.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards are currently working on their workforce planning projections for 2010-11 and will consider projections for 2011-12 in due course.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts will be removed from each NHS board as set out in the workforce planning projections for 2010-11, broken down by (a) medical consultants, (b) medical others, (c) dental, (d) nursing and midwifery, (e) allied health professions, (f) other therapeutic staff, (g) healthcare science staff, (h) administrative and clerical staff, (i) facilities staff and (j) management.

Nicola Sturgeon: As workforce projections are work in progress, informed by ongoing discussions about efficiency and service delivery improvements, there are no definitive figures available yet. NHS boards are in the process of developing their future workforce profiles in discussion with staff side representatives and have made clear there will be no compulsory redundancies.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts will be removed from each NHS board as set out in the workforce planning projections for 2011-12, broken down by (a) medical consultants, (b) medical others, (c) dental, (d) nursing and midwifery, (e) allied health professions, (f) other therapeutic staff, (g) healthcare science staff, (h) administrative and clerical staff, (i) facilities staff and (j) management.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are not aware of any workforce planning projections by NHS boards for 2011-12.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards have a policy on disability leave.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards are expected to comply with the statutory requirements in respect of disabled people.

  NHS24 is the only NHS board which has a specific policy in respect of leave for disabled employees. NHS24 are piloting this policy and will provide feedback on the effectiveness of this policy to the rest of NHSScotland in due course.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how NHS boards ensure that disabled employees are treated fairly regarding absences that they may be forced to take as a result of their disability.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards are expected to comply with the statutory requirements in respect of disabled people.

  In addition, NHS boards have the autonomy to adopt policies which are appropriate to local need. NHSScotland has a range of progressive policies in place to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of its workforce and NHS boards are actively working in partnership with their staff to achieve sustained improvements in attendance rates. It is open to boards to use their special leave policies to support disabled employees who are absent due to their disability.

National Health Service

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31800 by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 March 2010, whether the Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation has reported its findings on the assessment of the impact of the NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee formula on remote and rural areas and, if so, when these findings will be published.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation (TAGRA) has not yet reported its findings. TAGRA is currently reviewing its work on the impact of the formula on remote and rural areas, and drawing together its conclusions. The research is due to be finalized at its next meeting on 31 August, and the report is expected in September.

National Health Service

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing was informed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde of its decision to withdraw from the community health and care partnership arrangement established with Glasgow City Council.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Cabinet Secretary was formally informed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on 18 May 2010 that the NHS Board’s Performance Review Group had agreed that Glasgow City Council’s decision to delay the full implementation of the revised CHP scheme of establishment was not a viable way forward.

National Health Service

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will take to ensure that no adverse effects on the delivery of health services in Glasgow will arise from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s decision to withdraw from the community health and care partnership arrangement with Glasgow City Council.

Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS board will ensure that there are no adverse effects on the delivery of health services from the decision to revert to a NHS CHP.

National Health Service

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing plans to meet the chairman and the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss the board’s intention to develop alternative arrangements to manage NHS and primary care services in Glasgow.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Cabinet Secretary has been kept fully informed by the NHS board on their intention to develop proposals for the future management of NHS community and primary care services in Glasgow City. Detailed proposals will be put to the NHS board at its next full meeting in June 2010 and the Cabinet Secretary will be informed of those proposals in advance of the meeting. The Cabinet Secretary was updated by the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Board Chairman at the regular NHS board chairmen’s meeting on 24 May 2010.

National Health Service

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to ensure that there are no adverse effects on patient care resulting from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s development of alternative arrangements to manage NHS community and primary care services during the transition from community health and care partnerships.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Board has made it clear that the delivery of health services to patients will be fully protected during the period of transition out of CHCPs. The NHS will continue to provide high quality health services and care for the people of Glasgow working closely with patients and service users.

National Health Service

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will discuss the proposals to establish a series of separate local structures and arrangements for the management of community and primary health care services with the chief executive and the chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde prior to their discussion at the next board meeting.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Cabinet Secretary will continue to be kept fully informed by the NHS board on the development of alternative arrangements for the delivery of primary and community health services over the next few weeks leading up to the discussion by the board at its next meeting in June 2010.

Nutrition

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what training and support is given to home care providers in assessing the nutritional needs of patients.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what training is provided to home care providers to identify malnutrition, particularly in vulnerable groups such as older people, and on the benefits of oral nutritional supplements in the treatment of malnutrition.

Shona Robison: The care needs assessment provided by local authorities should identify the nutritional requirements of those cared for at home. The National Care Standards require care at home providers to develop a personal care plan with each person who is using the service which sets out how their care needs will be met. Where the service includes the preparation of food the plan will include details of any special dietary requirements. It is for the Care Commission, as the national regulator, to ensure through its inspections that care at home services are complying with this aspect of the National Care Standards.

  Local authorities or private providers of home care services are responsible for training and support of staff.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of claims by chief constables reported in The Herald on 18 May 2010 that they were urged by senior civil servants not to reduce police numbers until autumn 2010, when a decrease could be blamed on UK Government spending cuts, and what action it plans to take.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it (a) was aware of senior civil servants advising or (b) instructed senior civil servants to advise chief constables not to reduce police numbers until autumn 2010, when a decrease could be blamed on UK Government spending cuts, and what action it plans to take.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of statements by chief constables reported in The Herald on 18 May 2010 that senior civil servants from the Directorate General for Justice and Communities are "driving their own agenda by ignoring looming budget deficits" and encouraging chief constables to delay reducing police numbers until autumn 2010 so that a decrease could be blamed on UK Government spending cuts.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to maintaining funding for 1,000 extra police officers for the duration of the current parliamentary session.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of claims by chief constables reported in The Herald on 18 May 2010 that senior civil servants intimated that, if the chief constables allowed police numbers to fall, the final tranche of a £40 million Scottish Government funding package would be withheld.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it (a) was aware of senior civil servants advising or (b) instructed senior civil servants to advise chief constables that, if forces allowed police numbers to fall, the final tranche of a £40 million Scottish Government Funding package would be withheld.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the comments by the chief constable of Grampian Police reported in The Herald on 18 May 2010 that he and other chief constables are increasingly concerned by civil servants driving their own agenda and that "The civil servants are now more and more running policing. Five or six years ago, they used to be hard taskmasters but they would still respect and listen to chief constables but now they have grasped the policing agenda as their cause celebre."

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimate is of how many civilian job losses police forces will make by the end of the current parliamentary session, broken down by police force.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role civil servants play in the tripartite arrangement between ministers, chief constables and local police boards.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that civil servants play an appropriate role in the tripartite arrangement between ministers, chief constables and local police boards.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the comments by the chief constable of Grampian Police reported in The Herald on 18 May 2010 that "It is meant to be a tripartite arrangement between ministers, chief constables and local police boards. For civil servants to be taking over is extremely concerning."

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 1,000 extra police officers put in place will still be in place on 4 May 2011.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are aware of allegations that civil servants urged chief constables not to reduce police numbers prior to the outcome of a UK Government spending review in autumn 2010 and, if so, when they became aware.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether civil servants urged chief constables not to reduce police numbers prior to the outcome of a UK Government spending review in autumn 2010 and, if so, when ministers first became aware of this.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to investigate claims that civil servants urged chief constables not to reduce police numbers prior to the outcome of a UK Government spending review in autumn 2010.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are aware of allegations that civil servants told, or indicated to, chief constables that the final tranche of a £40 million Scottish Government funding package would be withheld if forces allowed police numbers to fall and, if so, when they became aware.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether civil servants told, or indicated to, chief constables that the final tranche of a £40 million Scottish Government funding package would be withheld if forces allowed police numbers to fall and, if so, when ministers first became aware of this.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to delivering 1,000 additional police officers in our communities by April 2011. Police funding is at a record level - £1.4 billion in 2010-11, including funding specifically for the training, recruitment and salaries of the 1,000 additional officers.

  There is now certainty over the stability of the 2010-11 budget and we fully expect police forces to deliver on the 1,000 extra officers commitment.

  Decisions on the future size of the budget for the police in Scotland will be taken once we know the overall size of the Westminster cuts and the effect that has on the overall size of the Scottish budget.

  Scottish Government civil servants act on behalf of Scottish ministers and operate in accordance with the Civil Service Code.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the comments of the chief constable of Grampian Police reported in The Herald on 18 May 2010 that chief constables have been forced into an impossible situation with regard to maintaining police numbers, given that police officers cannot be laid off under law, meaning that civilian cutbacks are the only option available to forces.

Kenny MacAskill: Providing a visible police presence on Scotland’s streets is a priority for the Scottish Government. We are therefore committed to a well resourced police service. Police funding is at a record level in 2010-11 but decisions on future levels of funding can only be taken when the size of the Scottish budget is known.

  It is more important than ever that all opportunities for making efficiency savings are taken and that any waste or duplication is removed. The Scottish Government is working closely with the police to ensure that resources for frontline policing are maximised.

  Chief constables are responsible for managing police budgets and decisions on the composition of the workforce in each force is a matter for them.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police forces it expects to experience budget deficits before the end of the current parliamentary session, broken down by (a) police force and (b) estimated scale of the deficit.

Kenny MacAskill: None. Police funding is at a record level of £1.4 billion in 2010-11. Additional calls for funding have been met, including fully funding the new pension arrangements meaning police forces no longer have to meet the costs of pensions from their running costs. The management of police budgets is a matter for chief constables and police authorities.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has instructed chief constables to start cutting back the number of (a) police officers and (b) civilian staff and, if so, when and by how many.

Kenny MacAskill: No such instruction has been issued. It is a matter for chief constables to decide on the composition of the workforce within each force.

Police

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the budget deficits facing police forces, what projections it has for the future size of forces across Scotland.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has for the future size of police forces across Scotland in the case that the final tranche of the £40 million funding package is (a) given to forces and (b) withheld.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to delivering 1,000 additional police officers in our communities by April 2011. Police funding is at a record level - £1.4 billion in 2010-11, including funding specifically for the training, recruitment an salaries of the 1,000 additional officers.

  There is now certainty over the stability of the 2010-11 budget and we fully expect police forces to deliver on the 1,000 officers commitment.

  Decisions on the future budgets for the police in Scotland will be taken when we know the size of the Westminster cuts and the effect that has on the size of the Scottish Budget.

Police

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what planning is underway to ensure that police forces are able to meet future needs despite any required budget reductions.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what planning is underway to ensure that public safety is not adversely affected by any required budget reductions among police forces.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government will work closely with the police on the possible impact on policing of any reductions in the Scottish budget. We are committed to a well resourced police service and to the maintenance of front line services across all public services across Scotland.

Police

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been spent by each police force on sending officers on management courses in each of the last 10 years, broken down by force.

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been spent by each police force on sending officers to conferences in each of the last 10 years, broken down by force.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

Poverty

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce how much of the £7.5 million allocated to support its poverty framework it plans to spend in 2010-11.

Alex Neil: From the budget allocated to implement Achieving our Potential , the Scottish Government has committed to spending £2.8 million in 2010-11.

  The £7.5b million dedicated funding that was allocated to the implementation of Achieving our Potential over two years has been subject to substantial cuts in the context of wider budgetary restraints which have been imposed on the Scottish Government. We expect to spend a total of £5 million over 2009-11 in supporting the implementation of the framework, which is complemented by significant further funding from across central and local government addressing the causes and consequences of poverty, inequality and disadvantage.

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33341 by Stewart Stevenson on 29 April 2010, what limits are placed on its ability to change the terms of the passenger railway franchise in Scotland by the Scotland Act 1998 and other UK legislation.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers were given responsibility by the Railways Act 2005 to specify and procure passenger services in Scotland in accordance with EU and UK legislation but with flexibility to meet their requirements.

  Changing the terms of a franchise within the duration of the current franchise is covered by variations to this agreement set out in schedule 19 and paragraph 1.3 sets out the limits placed on the contracting parties in this respect.

  A copy of the ScotRail Franchise Agreement is in the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. number 37777) and the Public Register version of the Franchise Agreement is available on Transport Scotland’s website http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/rail/rail-franchise/public-register/contents.

Roads

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-6711 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2010 ( Official Report  c. 16959), whether the Scottish Futures Trust is actively being considered as a potential funding mechanism for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-10135 on 15 April 2010 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-10/sor0415-02.htm#Col25389 .

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the improvements that have been carried out to the A9 since May 2007, showing when these improvements were first announced.

Stewart Stevenson: The following trunk road improvement schemes have been carried out on the A9 since May 2007:

  

Scheme
Publication of Draft Orders
Project Status


Ballinluig junction
7 October 2005
complete


Helmsdale phase2
16 March 2007
complete


Bankfoot junction improvement
18 December 2007
complete


Carrbridge WS2+1
No orders required.
complete


Moy WS2+1
20 January 2009
under construction


Loaninghead interchange improvement
private developer scheme - no orders required
under construction


Crubenmore
27 February 2007
in procurement